Notarizing Documents as a U.S. Citizen Abroad: The Embassy Appointment vs. Florida Online Notarization
Text (850) 900-2203 — the most reliable way to reach us from a distant time zone
Call (954) 999-4933 — Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 5 PM Eastern
The Problem Most Americans Abroad Run Into
You need a document notarized. You are eight time zones from home. The obvious answer is to book an appointment at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate — and then you discover what that actually involves:
- Appointment slots that are often booked out weeks in advance
- Limited hours, on weekdays only
- Travel to the embassy city, which for many people is a whole day or an overnight stay
- A fee per notarial seal
- Restrictions on what can be done and how many documents per appointment
If your document is going to be used in a foreign country, there is a second problem too: notarization on its own is rarely enough. Most foreign authorities also want an apostille — a state government certificate confirming the notary authority. So even after the appointment, you may not be finished.
The Alternative: A Florida Notarization, Done Online
Florida authorizes Remote Online Notarization under Florida Statute 117.265. A Florida-commissioned notary can notarize your document over a secure video session. It takes about fifteen minutes and you can do it from your kitchen table in Lisbon, Madrid, Dubai or Mexico City.
Because the notary is commissioned by Florida, the resulting document can then be apostilled by the Florida Department of State — which is the second half of the job, and the half most services leave you to solve yourself.
We do both steps, in one transaction
Online Florida Apostille performs the online notarization and obtains the Florida apostille. Our own ground team walks your document into the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee, we pay the state fee, and we ship the finished apostille to you. One company, one flat price, one point of contact.
Most online notary platforms do the notarization and stop there, leaving you to find a Florida company to handle the rest.
Do You Qualify? The Honest Answer
This is the part other services are vague about, so we will be direct. Florida RON statute requires Knowledge-Based Authentication. The system pulls your U.S. credit file and generates five personal challenge questions — addresses you have lived at, accounts you have held. You have to pass them. No notary can waive this; it is set by Florida law.
You can almost certainly use this if:
- You hold a current, unexpired U.S. driver license or U.S. state ID
- You have a U.S. Social Security Number
- You have an established U.S. credit history — U.S. accounts, cards or loans in your name
- You have a stable internet connection and a webcam
You will not be able to use this if:
- Your U.S. photo ID has expired, or you only hold foreign identification
- You have no U.S. Social Security Number
- You have never built U.S. credit, or your U.S. credit file has gone dormant from years abroad
Most Americans who moved abroad but kept a U.S. address, a U.S. card and a U.S. licence pass without any trouble. Americans who left young, or who have been outside the U.S. financial system for a long time, sometimes cannot. If you are in the second group, call or text us before you order — we will tell you honestly whether it can work and what the alternatives are, rather than taking your money and failing at the verification step.
What This Costs
- $299 flat — online notarization, the Florida state apostille fee, and Overnight FedEx anywhere in the lower 48 states
- $75 — each additional document in the same order
- $25 — each additional signer
Shipping to an address outside the United States. The $299 covers delivery within the lower 48 states. If your finished apostille needs to reach you overseas, FedEx International Priority is quoted at cost and billed in addition to the $299, and we confirm the exact amount before we process anything. Many clients abroad have us ship to a family member or address in the U.S. instead, which keeps it inside the flat rate. International transit also adds a little time beyond our normal 3-business-day domestic timeline.
Scheduling Across Time Zones
Our posted hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 5 PM Eastern. That maps comfortably onto Europe, Africa and the Americas. If you are in Asia, Australia or New Zealand, those hours land in the middle of your night — text us at (850) 900-2203 and we will arrange a session time that works where you are. Text reaches us reliably regardless of the hour.
Before You Order: Check Your Destination Country
All 124 Hague Convention member countries accept Florida apostilles in principle. But some countries — particularly in parts of Latin America, Europe and the Middle East — specifically require traditional wet-ink notarization and will not accept an electronically notarized document. Tell us where the document is going and we will check before you pay.
Text (850) 900-2203 — fastest way to reach us from overseas
Call (954) 999-4933 — Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 5 PM Eastern
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a document notarized while living outside the United States?
Yes. A Florida-commissioned notary can notarize your document over a secure video session from anywhere in the world, provided you can complete Florida identity verification — which requires a valid U.S. photo ID, a U.S. Social Security Number, and an established U.S. credit history.
Do I have to go to the U.S. embassy to get something notarized?
Not if you qualify for Florida Remote Online Notarization. The online route avoids the appointment queue, the travel and the limited consular hours entirely, and it takes about fifteen minutes.
Why do you need my Social Security Number?
Florida law requires Knowledge-Based Authentication for remote notarization. The system uses your U.S. credit file to generate five personal identity questions. Without an SSN and a credit history, the questions cannot be generated. This is a statutory requirement, not our policy, and no notary can waive it.
I have lived abroad for fifteen years. Will my credit file still work?
Sometimes. If you have kept a U.S. card, loan or account active, usually yes. If your file has gone completely dormant, the system may not be able to generate enough questions. Call or text us and we will tell you before you commit to anything.
I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I use this?
The requirement is not citizenship — it is having a U.S. photo ID, a U.S. Social Security Number and a U.S. credit history. If you have all three, the process works. If you do not, contact us and we will explain your options.
Can you ship the finished apostille to me overseas?
Yes, worldwide. International FedEx is billed at cost in addition to the $299, and we tell you the exact amount before you pay. Many clients abroad have us ship to a U.S. address instead to stay within the flat rate.
How long does the whole thing take?
Your apostille is obtained the next business day after your online session. U.S. delivery is typically 3 business days from the session. International delivery adds transit time depending on your country.